Sustainable Aquaculture,, An Overview...

Did you know that more than half of the world’s fish and other aquatic food for human consumption comes from aquaculture?

In fact, the aquaculture farming of fish and shellfish has been the fastest-growing food production activity in the world in recent decades.

Aquaculture is one of the fastest-growing food production sectors and has great potential for food security and livelihoods. However, it generates concerning consequences for the environment, including chemical and biological pollution, disease outbreaks, unsustainable feeds, and competition for coastal space.

Recent investigations are focusing on sustainable techniques (e.g., polyculture, offshore facilities) to improve the relationship between the industry, environment, and society.

This is an overview of the main factors of ecological concern within marine finfish aquaculture, their interactions with the environment, and highlights sustainable alternatives that are currently in use or development.

Adequate environmental monitoring and location of farms, the reduction and exploitation of wastes and chemicals being used is crucial to ensure the growth and continuity of aquaculture production.

Making aquaculture sustainable

As the global population inches towards nine billion by 2050, there will be a need for more food and jobs—which a growing aquaculture industry can help meet. But it needs to be practiced responsibly.

The risks and environmental impacts of some aquaculture practices have made headlines in recent years. The disease outbreaks in shrimp aquaculture in China, Thailand and Vietnam and in salmon farming in Chile illustrate some of the industry’s challenges.

But the growth of aquaculture also presents countries with the opportunity to expand and improve fish farming so that it is sustainable and environmentally-responsible.

“We continue to see excessive and irresponsible harvesting in capture fisheries, and in aquaculture, disease outbreaks, among other things, have heavily impacted production. There is a major opportunity for developing countries that are prepared to invest in better fisheries management and environmentally sustainable aquaculture.” Juergen Voegele, Director of Agriculture and Environmental Services at the World Bank.

Aquaculture is projected to be the prime source of seafood by 2030, as demand grows from the global middle class and wild capture fisheries approach their maximum take.

When practiced responsibly, fish farming can help provide livelihoods and feed a global population that will reach nine billion by 2050. But for an aquaculture system to be truly sustainable, it must have:    

• Environmental sustainability — Aquaculture should not create significant disruption to the ecosystem, or cause the loss of biodiversity or substantial pollution impact.
• Economic sustainability — Aquaculture must be a viable business with good long-term prospects.
• Social and community sustainability — Aquaculture must be socially responsible and contribute to community well-being.

Sustainable aquaculture is a dynamic concept and the sustainability of an aquaculture system will vary with species, location, societal norms, and the state of knowledge and technology.  

Several certification programs have made progress in defining key characteristics of sustainable aquaculture. Some essential practices include:

• Environment practices: Mangrove and wetland conservation; effective effluent management and water quality control; sediment control and sludge management; soil and water conservation; efficient fishmeal and fish oil use; responsible sourcing of broodstock and juvenile fish; control of escapes and minimizing biodiversity and wildlife impact.
• Community practices: Establish well-defined rights, aquaculture zones and responsibilities for aquaculturists; regulatory compliance and effective enforcement; community involvement; worker safety, fair labor practices and equitable compensation.
• Sustainable business and farm management practices: Effective biosecurity and disease control systems; minimal antibiotic and pharmaceutical use; microbial sanitation; maintaining global standards for hygiene; efficient and humane harvest and transport; accountable record-keeping and traceability; profitability.

WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME?

Compliance with aquaculture zoning will depend upon the degree to which stakeholders perceive advantage in collective ecosystem management. Cost/benefit analysis must consider constraints imposed upon resource users as well as returns on investment in the conservation of ecosystem services.

Costs will include limitations on farmer behavior within zones, scientific monitoring and the need for communication and collaboration among farmers and between farmers and regulators.

Motivations to establish and operate sustainable aquaculture zones vary among stakeholders, but the benefits are many:

For farmers:

• Reduce risk of poor stock performance, disease and fish kills;

• reduce the cost and complexity of environmental impact assessment;

• lay the framework for a new approach to certification and increase market access;

• improve sustainability—economic, social and environmental—of aqua-businesses;

• demonstrate good stewardship of the environment;

• lower insurance rates and ease credit terms on demonstrably lower risk investments.

For regulators:

• Credible scientific basis for decision-making on numbers, sizes, intensities of operations in a marine/aquatic space;

• credible scientific basis for aquaculture governance and all interactions with civil society;

• credible scientific basis to increase both local and export market access for“green”products.

For society:

• Wise use of ecosystem services;

• sustainably produced, nutritious seafood for those who need it most;

• better and fairer management of resources used to produce aquatic food.

What’s in it for the environment?

• Assure that an assessment of sustainability captures the collective impacts of all aquaculture operations in a clearly defined area;

• make sure that changes attributable to aquaculture are clearly related to changes in the ecosystem;

• streamline regulation to be more cost-effective.